Over with 2008 and Looking Forward to...

^^Update: From the Ted Corbitt 15K fun run: Lessons learned: never wear shorts under these conditions. My legs were numbed on miles 1-6 from the effect of the ice/snow. Nevertheless a great fun run!





2009! I need to take a step back and recharge for the new year. Mentally I am wiped out! Looking back at 2008, I went through a racing frenzy.

Physically I do have my fair share of injuries; whether it is my sore hamstrings or PFs, bruised toe/metatarsal or the ever-lingering IT band. Although unfortunate, it is the nature of the beast. I chose to run the amount of races for 2008 and looking at the dates, I really didnt have sufficient time to recover in between. I place the blame on myself and I'm currently paying for it. Hence, lessons learned!

On the contrary, with 6 PRs, an XC marathon, 5 marathons, 20 races and elusively BQ-ing twice, 2008 was an awesome year. I also learned that it is more important to run a "good" race than focusing on just a PR. I have to keep reminding myself that not every race has to be a PR. If that's the goal then running is going to be an endless chore. I'm telling ya' that I still have a lot to learn. As such, I've learned that while there's going to be bad races from time to time; there's always going to be another race on the horizon. Sounds cliche...but it works.

As for 2009, I'm aiming to run more consistently. Because of my mileage per week (35-45), innate ability and subpar training ethic, I'm never going to hit a sub 6 pace, sub 1:25s or a sub 3. Truth is, I'm content with that because I'm pretty realistic with my running abilities and limitations. I don't want to be consumed with those Pfitz-phucker plans, obssessing over mileage or inundated with the garmin BS (no offense to the garmin lovers). Granted everyone should strive close to perfection, but I'm not a Haile, Lance, Nick or an XC high schooler, so why apply unnecessary pressure on myself? All I need to know is if I've gave my best on that given day, then I'll be satisfied. Therefore, to counter my lack of speed, consistency will be my key goal. With that being said, I'll still strive to race the best that I can. In the end, who's to judge, right? And YES, it is affirmative that I'll try to fit in a triathlon soon - but first, biking lessons or myriad hours of freestylin' and not breaststrokin' will be essential! Triathlons are like hierglyphics to me. I'm still trying to understand it (ie. Number of events, where to train, scheduling conflicts with marathoning, the underlying costs)

Furthermore, I'm going to enjoy the races even more. In the middle of 2008, I've contemplated on dropping out of the team and becoming unattached like my other training buddies and also friends that are dropping out next year. Although that thought did come across my mind, I've become good friends with a great group of dedicated runners and participating in helpful speed sessions by an awesome coach as well. As such, I'll stick with the team and become more involve in the TRD group runs. As I have stated before, if running takes away from my social life then to hell with that, I've got more important things going on!

As far as anything goes, I've already set up a tentative 2009 racing schedule with several marathons on the horizon with Miami/Boston/NYC as the definites. Currently, there's 19-20 races which encompasses 2 trail races, 1 ultra and 6 marathons in scope. I still need to condense the schedule and defer several races to 2010.

Now it is time to burn the 2008 page and start a new chapter for 2009!

2008 in Review:

Date	Race	Distance	Time	Pace	Notes
1/6/08	Boston Buildup Series: Rowayton	10K	41:50	6:44	1st Race of the year
1/12/08	Fred Lebow Classic	5M	32:25	6:29	Couldn't repeat a Poland Spring performance
1/13/08	LI Series: Sunken Meadow Park	5K	19:46 (PR)	6:22	1st in Age Group. Finally subbed 20 and a day after Fred Lebow
1/20/08	Boston Buildup Series: Ridgefield	15K	1:08:23	7:23	Bad race, wasn't prepared
1/27/08	Manhattan Grand Prix	Half Marathon	1:30:45	6:55	Surprised that I subbed 7 on this race.
2/10/08	Bronx Grand Prix	Half Marathon	1:30:16	6:53	Less than 2 weeks after the Manhattan Half
3/9/08	Pfizer Challenge	15K	1:02:54 (PR)	6:45	10K and 15K are my weak points. Glad that I got this out of the way
3/15/08	Central Park Challenge	8K	32:30	6:32	Swooned over Carrie Tollefson
3/30/08	Boston Buildup Series: Fairfield	30K	2:12:36	7:07	One of my better races of the year
4/19/08	Charlottesville Virginia	Marathon	3:11:49	7:20	Toughest Marathon. Missed BQ by 50 seconds
5/4/08	Rexcorp Long Island	Marathon	3:07:43 (PR & BQ)	7:11	2 weeks after Charlottesville. 2nd Place in Age Group
5/17/08	Healthy Kidney	10K	40:49 (PR)	6:35	Surprised with this result
5/20/08	AHA Wall Street Run	3M	18:55	6:18	Didn't have enough to keep up with JR and Cmiller at the end
6/21/08	Ultimate XC Challenge: Val Morin, Quebec	Marathon	6:17:56	14:22	First "trail" Marathon. Toughest course and defining it as a trail is an understatement. There were literally no trails!
7/4/08	Putnam County	8M	56:07	7:00	Tired, but did the best I could on that day
7/29/08	NYC Nike Half	Half Marathon	1:29:43 (PR)	6:50	Finally subbed 1:30. 18th Half Marathon!
9/6/08	Fitness Mind, Body and Games	4M	25:41 (PR)	6:25	Loving the humid conditions
9/27/08	Hamptons	Marathon	3:15:57	7:29	1st in Age Group, battled through a crazy monsoon-like weather
11/4/08	ING NYC	Marathon	3:09:25 (BQ)	7:13	BQ'ed for 2009-2010. Excited to see the 'rents. Posted 2nd fastest Marathon time
11/23/08	Philadelphia	Marathon	3:12:22	7:20	6th Marathon, regardless of weather conditions, performed the best that I could on that day

Current Playlist: Music










Notice there's no fleet foxes, of montreal, vampire weekend, glasvegas --- they're on the other playlist ;)

America - A Horse With No Name
Band of Horses - The Funeral
Band of Horses - No One's Ever Gonna Love You
Band of Horses - The End Is Not Near
Band of Horses - Ode to LRC
Beth Orton - Sugar Boy
Bjork - Play Dead
Bjork - Visur Vatnsenda-Rosu
Bjork - Alarm Call
Coldplay - Lost!
Coldplay - Lovers In Japan
The Dears - You and I Are A Gang of Losers
The Dears - Ballad of Humankindness
The Dears - Whites Only Party
Duncan Sheik - Action At A Distance
Duncan Sheik - Foreshadowing
Franz Ferdinand - Take Me Out
Interpol - The New
Interpol - No I In Threesome
Interpol - Hands Away
Interpol - Rest My Chemistry
Interpol - Pace Is the Trick
Iron and Wine - Wolves
Iron and Wine - Flightless Bird
Iron and Wine - Fever Dream
Iron and Wine - Boy With A Coin
Iron and Wine - House By the Sea
Iron and Wine - Resurrection Fern
Iron and Wine - Woman King
Jack Johnson - Go On
Jack Johnson - Sexy Plexi
Jack Johnson - What You Thought You Need
Jens Lekman - Kanskes Ar Jag Kar I Dig
Jens Lekman - Postcard to Nina
Jens Lekman - Shirin
The Killers - Read My Mind
The Killers - Bling (Confessions Of A King)
Margot and the Nuclear So & So's - Talking In Code
Margot and the Nuclear So & So's - Quiet As A Mouse
Margot and the Nuclear So & So's - Jen Is Bringin' New Drugs
Margot and the Nuclear So & So's - Dress Me Like A Clown
Morrissey - Wide To Receive
Morrissey - Jack The Ripper
Morrissey - Life Is A Pigsty
Morrissey - Why Don't You Find Out For Yourself
Morrissey - My Love Life
Morrissey - Roy's Keen
Morrissey - First of the Gang To Die
Morrissey - I Know It's Gonna Happen Someday
Morrissey - Irish Blood English Heart
Mundy - To You I Bestow
My Morning Jacket - Touch Me I'm Going to Scream Part 1
My Morning Jacket - Touch Me I'm Going to Scream Part 2
My Morning Jacket - Sec Walking
My Morning Jacket - Look At You
My Morning Jacket - Smokin' From Shootin'
The National - Secret Meeting
The National - About Today
The National - Baby We'll Be Fine
The National - Abel
The National - Mr. November
The National - All The Wine
The National - Fake Empire
The National - Green Gloves
The National - Slow Show
The National - Ada
The National - The Perfect Song
The National - Son
The National - Slippin' Husband
The National - 90-Mile Water Well
The National - Available
The National - Lucky You
The National - Santa Clara
The National - Blank Slate
The National - Without Permission
Pete Yorn - On Your Side
Pete Yorn - Splendid Isolation
Pete Yorn - Georgie Boy
Poe - Hello
Poe - If You Were Here
Poe - That Day
Poe - Another World
Poe - Junkie
Postal Service - Be Still My Heart
Postal Service - Nothing Better
Postal Service - Recycled Air
Rachel Yamagata - Blame On Me
Radiohead - High and Dry
Radiohead - Nice Dream
Radiohead - Bullet Proof
Red Hot Chili Peppers - My Friends
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Aeroplane
Rogue Wave - Harmonium
Rogue Wave - Publish My Love
Rogue Wave - Cheaper Than Therapy
Rogue Wave - Fantasies
Rogue Wave - I Can Die
Rogue Wave - Temporary
Rosie Thomas - Let It Be Me
The Shins - The Past and The Pending
The Shins - Sea Legs
The Shins - Split Needles
The Smiths - There's A Light That Never Goes Out
The Smiths - Stretch Out And Wait
The Smiths - How Soon Is Now?
The Smiths - Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others
The Smiths - Bigmouth Strikes Again
The Smiths - Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before
Snow Patrol - How To Be Dead
Snow Patrol - Shut Your Eyes
Snow Patrol - Somewhere A Clock Is Ticking
Snow Patrol - Crack The Shutters
Snow Patrol - The Planets Bend Between Us
Snow Patrol - Lightning Strike
Stereophonics - Mr. Writer
Stereophonics - Maybe Tomorrow
Stereophonics - I'm Alright
Sugarcubes - Birthday
Sugarcubes - Mama
Thievery Corporation - Strange Days
Tori Amos - Spark
Travis - Selfish Jean
Travis - Closer
Travis - Get Up
Travis - Driftwood
Travis - Before You Were Young
Travis - Under The Moonlight
Under The Influence of Giants - Mama's Room
Utada Hikaru - Keep Tryin'
Utada Hikaru - Blue
U2 - If God Will Send His Angels
U2 - Bullet The Blue Sky

And that's all Folks!

Cheers,
Moz